Indiana AG Zoeller pledges outreach

January 22, 2009|By ED RONCO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- He didn't offer many details, but Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said here Wednesday that his office will be more proactive in reaching out to consumers who need help. Expect to see more visits to Indiana's 92 counties, and the establishment of office hours to allow people to better access the attorney general's office. As the economy struggles, con artists go to work, he said. "People often are subject to being preyed upon by scam artists and people who will take advantage of those who will face difficult problems," Zoeller said. The attorney general's office under Zoeller also will focus on nonprofit groups. Trouble on the stock market is "going to be magnified in the nonprofit world where they have significant investments in equities," he said. That means many groups will try to provide the same level of service with a lot less money. Zoeller sees his role as educational -- helping nonprofit groups understand the special regulations they must follow so they steer clear of trouble. "They've got a very tough year ahead just like the private sector," he said. "I'd much rather be at the front end working with the nonprofits than at the back end trying to regulate."